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WICKED SMILE
When Night Falls

No Dust (2026)
Rating: 8.5/10

When Night Falls is the second full-length platter from Melbourne, Australia-based combo Wicked Smile. Lead by vocalist Danny Cecati, the line-up also features the tag team axe attack of Stevie Janevski and Dave Graham, while bass duties are carried out by Tom Nugara and percussion is performed by Andrew Sharp.

First off I want to comment on the rich vocals of Danny Cecati, someone who would slot nicely into a band like Savatage because his tones are so fiery and potent. The music is equally bewitching to the point that When Night Falls will definitely feature in my end of year top 10. At the tail end of last year I was besotted by the albums from Midnight Fortress (Midnight Fortress) and Sacred Leather (Keep The Fire Burning), and I’d happy put these guys in that same bracket.

The title track is an absolute beast of a tune, a scorching chugging opener that sizzles with a brooding energy. Scores of bands similar to this littered around in the mid-to-late 80s, and it’s great to see these Aussies tapping into that pit of electricity. “Don’t look back, you’ll see what’s coming for you, no escape, you’re running out of time,” scowls Cecati. It’s all very darkly and theatrical, smouldering with plumes of smoke which smother the flickering neon alley lights.

This is what I want my heavy metal to sound like; textured, charismatic and crackling. ‘Back To Back We Stand’ is 1987 all over again where there’s a partly commercial sway as the drums thud and throb and the melody begins to snake through the haze. “When you hear the voices call, don’t let them make you fall,” cries Cecati over another rich and steady riff. It’s when I hear bands of this ilk that I realise how justified I am in my criticism of bands like the UK’s Tailgunner, because for authentic, organic and bruising rock this is far more engaging than a sound so synthetic. ‘Night Time Riders’ is a gloriously melodic track that strides with such purpose and attitude while at the same time being blessed with such stunning melody.

Sure, there’s nothing new here, but Wicked Smile just know how to rock. ‘Face Of The Wicked’ harkens back to a marrying of Metal Church, Armored Saint, Lizzy Borden etc. – pure molten metal that wraps you up in its arms of steel as the steady pace bristles with menace. “Let’s break the silence, drown out all your fears,” croons Cecati on the simmering semi-ballad ‘Heaven’s Falling Down (Crutch)’, a sublime composition of punchy drums and driving axe work. It’s just a divine song from a record so palatable and engulfing as wings of warmth cradle you beneath the star-dotted night sky. Meanwhile, ‘Before The Rain’ is a straight up rocker as Cecati bellows: “No more silence, screams of fear,” over more textured axe work.

It’s just nice to hear a record today that sounds so wholesome and not synthetic, in spite of the modern production. With a rich mix of mid-tempo (‘Rebel Souls’) and up-tempo (‘Walking The Wire’ and ‘Scream N’ Shout’) rockers, When Night Falls is a deliciously melodic metal record that pushes all the right buttons and remains heavy through most of its journey while hidden by a cool album cover.

Neil Arnold

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